What is a pantry?
Q: What is a pantry?
A: A pantry is a room or cupboard used for storing food and other household goods.
Q: What types of foods need to be kept cool?
A: Foods such as butter, eggs, milk, and such need to be kept cool.
Q: What was the purpose of the pantry before modern refrigeration was available?
A: The pantry was a room or large cupboard made to keep cooler than the temperature in the kitchen, in order to provide storage for food that needed to be kept cool, before modern refrigeration was available.
Q: Where was the pantry typically built in relation to the kitchen?
A: The pantry was typically built on the north side of the house close to the kitchen.
Q: What was the temperature like in the pantry in the summertime?
A: In the summertime, the temperature in the pantry would be several degrees lower than the ambient temperature in the house.
Q: What types of foods would be kept in the pantry?
A: Breads, butter, cheesecakes, eggs, pastries, and pies were kept in the pantry. Vegetables could also be stored in smaller amounts until ready to use, along with fresh berries, fruit, cheese, butter, and other similar foods.
Q: How did the circulation of air work in the pantry?
A: The warm air in the pantry rose and escaped through the upper vent, while cooler air was drawn in through the lower vent, providing constant circulation of cooler air.
